Published on Saturday, September 20, 2025

By Victoria Torley

The idea is that the troublesome branch or tree can be removed in just a few minutes and will trouble you no more.

My chainsaw. The noise demands special ear protection. The feel of the motor as it revs and cuts. Watching the tree fall exactly as planned. All those things that make using a chainsaw a true delight.

I used to use a gas chainsaw, albeit a small one, because using a big one took its toll. Then, I switched to an electric saw, but the years grew longer. Now, I am not allowed to use any chainsaw (Metric Man does get to issue orders now and again). True, I have a wonderful gardener to relieve me of onerous duties, but, dang it, I like using a chainsaw (see above for reasons).

All that brings me to the problem of thinning the trees in the orchid garden and elsewhere, as it seems that even shade-loving plants want more sun than they receive right now. Enter my gardener with my chainsaw.

We went out a bit ago and marked the trees to be cut. All of them are small but quite tall, and the upper leaves are blocking the sun. You wouldn’t think a skinny tree would be such a problem, but jungle and forest trees compete for sunshine. They push their roots deep and sprint upward, racing the other seedlings for a spot in the lower canopy. Around them, the losers of the race shrivel and fade away.

And then? The trees that lost the race are processed back into the soil. The rains soak them through, and fungi grab the nutrients. Then the ants start to nest under the bark, wresting it away from the trunk.

Beetles lay their eggs, and the grubs push into the soft wood below the bark. If the tree were a bit hollow, you might find a nest of the stingless bees of Costa Rica busily making honey in their new home.

Nothing is wasted. Bacteria swarm through the dead wood. Worms feast on it and deposit their castings to enrich the forest floor. The winner goes on and up, and the loser nourishes it. All in a day’s work in the forest.

Speaking of a day’s work, the chainsaw noise stopped, so I ran out to see what was up (or down).

My gardener was cutting one of the trees with his machete! What fun is that?

Plant for the week. The Mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) is a small-sized tree that is ideal for gardens and requires minimal pruning. It is prized for its unique and striking appearance and is a fast-growing, small to medium-sized deciduous tree. It is highly recognizable for its fern-like leaves and fluffy, pink, brush-like flowers.

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Find more interesting stories about gardening in Costa Rica on the AM Costa Rica Garden page. Questions on this article, Ms. Victoria Torley, gardener columnist, can be reached by emailing victoriatorley1@gmail.com
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